NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: ESPN Ops Team Navigates Both Sides of the Border With Canadian Teams' Strong Showing
26/04/2024
Friday, April 26, 2024 - 12:26 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
With the most Canadian teams in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2017, ESPN's operations team faces a challenge nearly unprecedented in professional or collegiate sports: launching three playoff series in Canada - spanning venues across the entire country - while also covering action in the U.S.
Similar to NHL players and teams, says Erin Orr, senior manager, remote operations, ESPN, our technical teams comprehend that playoff triumph hinges not solely on individual brilliance but on cohesive teamwork. It's the right mindset, coupled with everyone's unwavering commitment to the team's success, that ultimately dictates victory.
Coordinating the movement of mobile units, personnel, and equipment within a condensed timeframe demanded a concerted effort across multiple departments. Additionally, the necessity to collaborate with another sports network in each city added further layers of complexity to the planning process.
The nature of operations mandates thorough preparation for every conceivable scenario, empowering our team to adeptly manage such demanding circumstances at short notice, says Orr. Transporting equipment, mobile units, and crew to eight different cities within the given timeframe posed a considerable challenge, yet the shared commitment and collective effort of all involved infused the challenge with an element of excitement.
Opening Power Play: 14 Games in Four Days Across Two Countries At the outset of the playoffs, ESPN's ops team was tasked with producing 14 broadcasts on ESPN and ESPN2 over four days, with three distinct production levels and across two countries. The undertaking was particularly daunting because the official schedule was released just 48 hours before crew departure.
Throughout the regular season, says Orr, we uphold a standard of excellence in our product delivery. As the playoffs approached, we acknowledged the need to elevate our efforts even further. Every department involved in playoff operations - from crewing and remote traffic to the mobile-unit team, production, and programming - prioritized meticulous attention to detail and fostered collaboration to ensure cohesive and successful outcomes.
With eight operations teams deployed across 12 sites for the first round, ESPN is balancing Enhanced World Feed (EWF) productions in Canada with full onsite productions and multiple REMI setups in the States.
Specifically, games in Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Edmonton are EWF productions, coordinated closely with local RSNs and Canadian rightsholder Sportsnet. For U.S. games, ESPN is deploying a mix of onsite truck-based and REMI Pro productions; in the latter, announcers are onsite, the bulk of the production crew is in Bristol, and isolated paths go to the control room for the game production.
In a concerted effort, the ESPN team collaborates closely with TNT Sports, RSNs, and Sportsnet to ensure optimal broadcast quality for all stakeholders. Daily communication with the league streamlines coordination of show specs, resource allocation, and onsite logistics.
Throughout the playoffs, NEP Group and Game Creek Video provide all mobile units, jointly supporting ESPN and TNT Sports and deploying approximately 12 mobile units to cover potentially 56 first-round games.
ESPN continues its collaboration with Game Creek and NEP for NHL Playoff coverage, says Orr. It's a partnership marked by seamless adaptability to last-minute scheduling changes, diverse venue requirements, and varied production levels across four Canadian cities.
Riding the Ratings Wave: ESPN Looks To Maintain Momentum Following double-digit viewership increases in the regular season, ESPN's NHL coverage is up 15% through 14 playoff games. With more eyeballs on the broadcasts, the ops team knows the pressure is on to deliver at the highest level.
The playoffs epitomize the pinnacle of excitement within the hockey season, characterized by extensive televised coverage, says Orr. Every facet of the hockey ecosystem contributes significantly to reaching this grand stage, with our operations team at the forefront, instilling a strong sense of unity, leadership, and organization.
In contrast to the regular season's predictability, she continues, the playoffs amplify the pressure, imbuing each game with immense significance. Much like NHL players, our technical teams and crews bear the weight of every moment, understanding the imperative of precision and flawless execution. Consequently, our focus remains steadfast on nurturing and safeguarding the collective well-being of the team.
LINK: | https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/04/26/nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-espn-o... |
See more stories from svg |
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet Appoints Santiago Solanas as CEO to Lead Next Era of Growth and Innovation
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet and Veritone Reach Agreement to Distribute, Transact and Monetize Media Archives
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
06/05/2024
Gathering Is a Call to Action: A Letter From Ilyse McKimmie
By Ilyse McKimmie Now, more than ever That's a phrase so often used in the last few years that I've come to dread seeing it in notes like this one. A...
06/05/2024
From Petabytes To Exabytes: The Future Of Shared Storage
alt= class=wp-image-12099 data-lazy-src=/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Blog-Exabyte-Storage-Demand-960x540-1.jpg/> Demand for storage solutions has reached unprece...
06/05/2024
Spotify Uplifts Bold, Emerging Artists in Honor of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Around the world, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists continue to impact mu...
06/05/2024
Never Miss a New Release With Countdown Pages for Audiobooks
Spotify is making it easier for booklovers to count down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until a new audiobook releases. With Countdown Pages for audioboo...
06/05/2024
Get Ready to join Dan Hong as he hits the streets in his ultimate culinary journey
Get Ready to join Dan Hong as he hits the streets in his ultimate culinary journ...
06/05/2024
Lighting a Day-Interior Caf With LEE Filters
In this video, cinematographer Simon Rowling welcomes viewers behind the scenes as he lights a daytime-interior scene inside a coffee shop. Shooting on Panavisi...
06/05/2024
Technology for the Next Generation of Special Forces
L3Harris is well positioned to support the complex and multifaceted nature of special operations forces in all domains through our agile and responsive technolo...
06/05/2024
Canada Plans May 8 Public Alert System Test
OAKVILLE, Ontario As part of Emergency Preparedness Week, Alert Ready, Canadas national public alerting system, will be distributing a test alert to Canadians i...
06/05/2024
Survey: Pay TV Penetration Falls to 40% in U.S. Hispanic Homes
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. Horowitz Research has released a new study on the viewing and media habits of U.S. Hispanic/Latine audiences that shows a dramatic decline in...
06/05/2024
RE:Vision Effects Autograph 2024.4 released! 50% Off Through May 9th
RE:Vision Effects Autograph 2024.4 released! 50% Off Through May 9th Brie Clayton May 6, 2024 0 Comments New game-changing motion graphics & VFX featu...
06/05/2024
NBC Orders More Night Court'
NBC has renewed Night Court for a third season. The courtroom comedy was on the network from 1984 to 1992, and NBC rebooted it in early 2023....
06/05/2024
ABC Shares Summer Premiere Dates
ABC has revealed its summer schedule. The Bachelorette gets going Monday, July 8, with Jenn Tran the star in season 21. Celebrity Family Feud starts up Tuesday,...
06/05/2024
Holly Springs Salamanders Home Opener Less Than Three Weeks Away, Tickets on Sale Now
It's almost go-time for the Holly Springs Salamanders! The season opener is ...
06/05/2024
The Pros and Cons of Cloud, Hybrid, or On-Premises Radio Operations
For years, radio stations have used on-premises servers to broadcast content and manage automation, traffic, and billing systems. As technology continues to adv...
06/05/2024
AI and Big Data Take the Centre Stage in Central Asia at Beetech 2024 Hosted by Beeline Kazakhstan and QazCode
06 May 2024 AI and Big Data Take the Centre Stage in Central Asia at Beetech 20...
06/05/2024
FIRST LOOK AT JIM PARSONS & MAYIM BIALIK REPRISING THEIR ROLES FROM THE BIG BANG THEORY ON THE SERIES FINALE OF YOUNG SHELDON, MAY 16 ON CBS!
FIRST LOOK AT JIM PARSONS & MAYIM BIALIK REPRISING THEIR ROLES FROM THE BIG BAN...
06/05/2024
NBC Sports and Churchill Downs Extend Historic Partnership, Kentucky Derby to Be Presented on NBC and Peacock Through 2032
NBC Sports and Churchill Downs Extend Historic Partnership, Kentucky Derby to Be...
06/05/2024
Beverly Hills Aerials, LIV Golf Make Australian-Broadcast History by Flying Live Drones Over People in Adelaide
Beverly Hills Aerials, LIV Golf Make Australian-Broadcast History by Flying Live...
06/05/2024
Watch the Trailer for 'A Part of You' - Felicia Maxime, Edvin Ryding and Zara Larsson in Leading Roles
Back to All News Watch the Trailer for A Part of You - Felicia Maxime, Edvin Ry...
06/05/2024
FOR-A to focus on Ultra HD at Broadcast Asia
Leadership in 12G-SDI for low impact migration to 4k production...
06/05/2024
STATEMENT CONCERNING EUTELSAT GROUP'S GROUND NETWORK
Press release - 6 May 2024 07:31 STATEMENT CONCERNING EUTELSAT GROUP'S GROUND NETWORK Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Download as PDF Paris, 06 May 2024 ...
06/05/2024
Explore Broadcast Pix's Latest Innovations at InfoComm 2024
Tyngsboro, Mass. - May 6, 2024 - Join us at InfoComm 2024 to experience the latest advancements in live production technology. From June 12-14, 2024, at the Las...
06/05/2024
2024-05-06
To champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities, Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop, ava...
06/05/2024
Actress Matseliso Mohale has joined Muvhango'
Actress Matseliso Mohale has joined Muvhango'Talented actress Matseliso Mohale has joined SABC2's soapie Muvhango' as Vhangani's lover and a c...
06/05/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Leroy refuses to give up fighting to bury Mthetho
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Leroy refuses to give up fighting to bury MthethoDon't miss Monday, 6 May's riveting episode of South African soapie Smoke...
06/05/2024
NVIDIA and Alphabet's Intrinsic Put Next-Gen Robotics Within Grasp
Intrinsic, a software and AI robotics company at Alphabet, has integrated NVIDIA AI and Isaac platform technologies to advance the complex field of autonomous r...
06/05/2024
A Mighty Meeting: Generative AI, Cybersecurity Connect at RSA
Cybersecurity experts at the RSA Conference this week will be on the hunt for ways to secure their operations in the era of generative AI. They'll find man...
06/05/2024
SES to acquire Intelsat: Investor Relations Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the rationale of the transaction? What is the benefit for SES shareholders? This combination creates a stronger and more competitive multi-orbit ope...
05/05/2024
Singer Becky G To Close Out TelevisaUnivision's Upfront
A special evening performance by multiplatinum singer Becky G will provide a memorable conclusion to TeievisaUnivision's Casa Cultura upfront event on May 1...
05/05/2024
Publicis Won't Use Nielsen's Big Data as Currency in This Upfront
Giant media buyer Publicis is telling network sales executives that it does not think Nielsen's new panel-plus-big-data currency is ready for this upfront....
05/05/2024
Glenn Kirschner, NBC News Legal Analyst, Rips Media Coverage of Trump Trial
WASHINGTON Glenn Kirschner, legal analyst at NBC News, blasted the media for referring to the New York trial of former President Donald Trump as a hush-money ...
05/05/2024
Catchy Comedy Marathons The Beverly Hillbillies' May 4-5
Catchy Comedy's weekend marathon sees The Beverly Hillbillies on the weekend of May 4-5. The event kicks off Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. ET, and runs through...
05/05/2024
How NBC Sports Plans to Cover Kentucky Derby
NBC Sports has the 150th Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4. The coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock and the feature race at Churchill Downs in Louis...
05/05/2024
Netflix Announces New Comedy Series 'Roosters', Starring Jeroen Spitzenberger, Waldemar Torenstra, Andr Dongelmans and Benja Bruijning
Back to All News Netflix Announces New Comedy Series Roosters, Starring Jeroen ...
05/05/2024
Showdown Alert: Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura' Drops Electrifying Trailer for June 6 Debut
Back to All News Showdown Alert: Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura' Drops Electr...
04/05/2024
Nielsen: Asian American Audiences Spend as Much Time on Mobile as TV
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
Comcast Makes $1M Commitment to Military-Serving Nonprofits
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
FCC Unveils Agenda for May Open Meeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
Enhancements Made to Key 5G Convergence Standards
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio Brie Clayton May 3, 2024 0 Comments Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions. ...
04/05/2024
New faces and new storylines': What to expect on Izingane ZeS'thembu' S2
New faces and new storylines': What to expect on Izingane ZeS'thembu...
03/05/2024
Sudan: New WhatsApp Course Equips Journalists to Report on Conflict Related Sexual Violence
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
Slow Explores an Unusual Relationship With Sincere Romance
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
Be Honest With Your Art': Danny Ocean Reflects on Sudden Stardom and His Deeply Personal New Album
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify and ELLE Collaborate in Celebration of Emerging Women in Music
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
La Msica Mexicana no es solamente un fenmeno en Mxico y Estados Unidos, tambin en toda Amrica Latina
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...